MGMT - Oracular Spectacular (2007)

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By Sean Lynch

As a musical nation, we have officially come full circle as we near the year 2010. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find an original sound anywhere within the first decade of this millennium - with the notion of 'retro' being taken to a new level.

Every couple of years (it started with The Strokes in 2000), the modern musical landscape was positively littered with modernised versions of the past, on a scale unlike any era before it. This decade has been, essentially, a "Best of Musical Mankind" prologue for future generations who are no doubt about to embark on a new terrain on music.

There was the 80s indie rock of the aforementioned Strokes, the garage rock of Jet, the 70s euphoria of Wolfmother, the androgynous synth pop of Cut Copy - and it seems the last phase in now in play with the early 90s hyper coloured MGMT.

"Oracular Spectacular" is the first major studio album by these quirky New Yorkers, and it is an absolute killer!

Kicking off with the additively catchy opening electronic riff of Time To Pretend (which first appeared on their 2005 EP), MGMT immediately signal that perhaps there is something exciting on the musical horizon.

While appearing on several TV and movie soundtracks, inexplicably Time To Pretend never really hit with audiences as a single - but for mine - this is probably the best song on offer.

To each their own I guess.

There is more synth riff magic with the radio hit Electric Feel (one of the few hit songs to ever really support the violent acts of the eel) as well as the surprisingly catchy title track Kids Oracular.

But it's not all pill popping bliss, MGMT offer up several tracks which would make plenty of indie rock bands jealous as hell. Pieces of What is a perfect blend of folk and future - serving as a calming, yet odd, homage to the likes of The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan - and is easily one of the strongest tracks on the album.

Weekend Wars, as seems to be the case with several tracks on "Oracular Spectacular", takes its cues from The Flaming Lips (which may be no coincidence considering the duo recorded with Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann) but never quite reaches what it is aiming for.

"Oracular Spectacular" is one of the most consistent releases of 2007 (and is finally getting the attention it deserves in Australia almost a year later) blending pop, art and emotion in a truly eclectic mix of sounds and styles.

Well worth checking out, as MGMT are certain to be the next band you will have to be able to discuss at parties and festivals (and considering that the CD is sitting on shelves for less than $20 - it's cheap entertainment as well!).

RATING: 4 out of 5

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